Thursday, October 30, 2008

I wrote this same kind of letter to the GOP in a previous post, and while on this topic, I decided to be just as hard on the Democrats in relation to the non-religious.

Dear Democrats,

I'm writing you in order to ask important questions pertaining to the current elections. Before I start, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Jim, age 24, a photographer, a hard working retail inventory person, patriotic American, troop-supporter, artist, son of a loving mother, fiscally conservative, atheist. Yes, I'm an atheist.

May I ask, does the word "atheist" make you cringe? Does the thought of a person rejecting religion for the sake of realistic explanation of our world appall you? I hope not. I'm just an average, lower middle-class, hard working American. I donate to charity (even Church charity), I volunteer for common causes, and I work hard to help my fellow countrymen and countrywomen. With all of that aside, I have a political bone to pick with you:

Why won't a party that is traditionally secular carry a secular attitude towards religion and government?

Why won't a party strongly supported by non-religious people provide the same support in return?

Why are atheists still being slandered to cover Kay Hagan's supposed "association" with atheists?

Why is association with atheists considered a negative in an election campaign?

Why are there still so many loopholes in government healthcare for middle-class Americans?

You've told us so much about healthcare for all Americans, but you haven't told us how we would pay for it. How will we pay for it and how much will it cost?

Why are the discussions about the future of social security benefits all talk and no walk?

I would die for our Constitutional rights, and I support the causes of a free Democracy. Any atheist that lives in this country would more than likely tell you the same. Atheists can be Democrats, Libertarians, Socialists, and all things in between; even Republicans. My point is that we're all Americans, and we can all be labeled different things and still act as a civilized and unified nation.

Why are you doing so much to spread the divide, and not doing enough to close it?

I know of many different versions of these so-called open letters, but despite their common use, I still see them as a powerful way to make a point.

Dear Republicans,

I'm writing you in order to ask important questions pertaining to the current elections. Before I start, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Jim, age 24, a photographer, a hard working retail inventory person, patriotic American, troop-supporter, artist, son of a loving mother, fiscally conservative, atheist. Yes, I'm an atheist.

May I ask, does the word "atheist" make you cringe? Does the thought of a person rejecting religion for the sake of realistic explanation of our world appall you? I hope not. I'm just an average, lower middle-class, hard working American. I donate to charity (even Church charity), I volunteer for common causes, and I work hard to help my fellow countrymen and countrywomen. I feel that your malignment is a strong misaccusation that is forcing many non-religious people to wonder if our rights might be threatened by those who wrongly malign us. I fear for my rights as an American under a non-secular government.

Why is Kay Hagan being slandered by the Dole campaign?

Why is any relationship or political partnership with non-religious people even considered wrong?

Why is a party celebrated for small government policy trying to find ways to govern and micromanage the social structure of American life?

Why is a party that is supposed to be against high government spending responsible for one of the largest national debts in American history?

I would die for our Constitutional rights, and I support the causes of a free Democracy. Any atheist that lives in this country would more than likely tell you the same. Atheists can be Democrats, Libertarians, Socialists, and all things in between; even Republicans. My point is that we're all Americans, and we can all be labeled different things and still act as a civilized and unified nation.